The rising young stars of the Republican Party will dominate the podium in the coming convention. It's a clear signal the GOP is moving beyond the Bush years.

With John McCain set to accept his party's presidential nomination, the Republican National Convention lineup that will precede him features a panoply of new faces in the Grand Old Party.

Bobby Jindal, the first-term Louisiana governor who is the son of Indian immigrants, will have a prominent speaking role. So will Michael Steele, current head of GOPAC and the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, who is black. As will Gov. Sarah Palin, the popular first-ever woman to lead the state of Alaska.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman will also have roles, leading off with speeches on Sept. 4 and Sept. 3, respectively.

After a customary first-day nod to the outgoing administration — President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will all speak — the Republican National Convention, to be held Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center, will quickly pivot to a slate of speakers intended to project the message that a new day is dawning in the Republican Party.

"This is part of the effort to rebrand the Republican Party: 'We're going to do a tip of the hat to the old party, and then we're going to roll out the new face of America,' " said Larry Jacobs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota. "We've got diversity here in terms of gender and race.

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Other than President Bush's first-day speech, the only prime-time speakers who are white and male are McCain and, potentially, his still unannounced vice presidential pick.

The lineup also features virtually every potential vice presidential pick mentioned by pundits in recent weeks, including Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

Palin and Jindal, considered long shots for the ticket, are also on the list. One dark-horse candidate not on the speakers lineup is South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

Tom Steward, McCain's Minnesota campaign spokesman, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the speaker list and what it might mean for McCain's vice presidential pick.

"I don't think we should read anything into those names," Steward said. "They are just the top-rate, top-flight names in the Republican Party."

Additional speakers and program detail are likely to be added as the convention draws near.

The McCain campaign and convention planners said the lineup and the convention would emphasize McCain's vision for moving the country forward, and sound a theme of service and sacrifice for one's country.

"It really is what we're building this convention and this campaign around," Steward said.

But while McCain's personal story is likely to play a role at the convention — he was a prisoner of war for more than five years during the Vietnam War — the lineup so far is bereft of military personnel or former Navy buddies.

During the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry used the event to emphasize his military background — even famously saluting the audience at one point — in an effort to put to rest questions about his patriotism and service during the Vietnam War.

A handful of rising stars in the party are speaking, including Palin — a strong anti-abortion advocate whom some have pushed as a vice presidential pick — Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle.

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, representing a critical state in the 2008 election, will precede McCain's Sept. 4 speech. Also speaking that day is conservative Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a speech that should be closely watched because many conservatives remain wary of McCain.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, will kick off the convention with a Sept. 1 speech. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will speak first on Sept. 2, a spot considered the keynote speech of the convention. In 2004, Democratic Sen. Zell Miller delivered a memorable speech from that slot during the Republican convention in New York City.

A spokesman for Coleman said he was still finalizing his message for the convention.

"It's fair to say this speech will reflect Norm Coleman's optimistic, positive vision for Minnesota, which will match up with John McCain's optimistic and positive vision for America," spokesman Luke Friedrich said.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is also slated to speak at the convention, but there are questions about his role. His office indicated to reporters Wednesday that he may skip the convention altogether if a state budget impasse isn't solved.

Regardless, Schwarzenegger's role appears scaled back from his prominent 2004 convention speech. He would speak Sept. 1, when he may be overshadowed by the vice president, first lady and president. Schwarzenegger has been critical of his own party at times and has even suggested he would consider an offer from Barack Obama, should he win the presidency, to join his administration.

"The governor and Senator McCain have a great relationship," Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Julie Soderlund said. "The governor's definitely looking forward to coming out to the convention and helping Senator McCain in any way he can."

Jacobs said the Sept. 1 schedule appears intended at getting the old guard out of the way before moving on to the new.

"They are clearly offering a graceful exit for President Bush and Vice President Cheney," Jacobs said. "They want to introduce a new product line called, 'McCain for President.' "

Monday, Sept. 1

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut

Vice President Dick Cheney

First lady Laura Bush

President George W. Bush

Tuesday, Sept. 2

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas

Former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman

Rosario Marin, former U.S. treasurer

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele of Maryland

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani

Wednesday, Sept. 3

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Meg Whitman, National Co-Chair for McCain 2008 and former President and CEO of eBay

Carly Fiorina, Victory '08 Chairman for the Republican National Committee and former Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co.